November 2, 2018
Today we left the Gwydir River camp after 2 weeks and could have stayed much longer! The town has all the facilities we needed with a good IGA supermarket, fuel, lpg, butcher, bakery, and recently a new Laundromat. This is a great addition for the campers as there are six free camps along the river over a distance of about 10km and previously no laundromat service meaning everyone had to find a way of washing by carting more water or using river water — or else move on to another town.
A Minor Bushfire!
Two nights before leaving one of our fellow travellers went into town and inadvertently left a “live” fire under her BBQ – not a very good idea! We spotted flames leaping about two metres high very close to the motorhome and called our other neighbours, Geoff and Lynne for some help. Fortunately there was a gravel patch to help stop the spread further away but the woodpile nearer the motorhome was also burning. With a few buckets of water and a shovel we stopped it and a fellow camper called the fire brigade but they failed to find us on the first call. About an hour later they turned up (in the dark) and thoroughly drenched the whole area to stop any flare ups.
The lady who started the drama bought both of us a voucher for the best take away shop in town and we enjoyed a great fish and chip (and ice cream) dinner the night before we left.
Before leaving we took a drive to Copeton Dam (about 45km) where there is a caravan park on this (Western) side (as well as a paid campground on the northern shore and a free camp on the Eastern shore). The Dam is currently well below 20% capacity and as you can see the water is a long way from the spillway dam wall!
The campground and river provide a few parting pictures until next time:
